lag free ?USB fingerboards

[bimm25e]

Hey All I'm in the planning stage of a portable MAME control panel, I would like to include inputs for classic gaming controllers (NES, SEGA, SNES) and unfortunately I have an extreme sensitivity to input lag.  I am hoping I can get some dead systems to pull the ports out of and wire the backs to USB fingerboards.  I would like recommendations on which fingerboards will allow be to wire these control pads (without any analogue inputs) without any discernible input lag (Assuming my PC is quick). 

If I have success with classic consoles I'll be trying the same with "new"er classic concoles that utilize analogue inputs (joystick, sliders etc)  IF anyone could recommend a lag free board that will let me interface with analogue inputs I would appreciate that advice as well..



Also if anyone has a better option to accomplish my goal I'd like to hear it.  Just please keep in mind my primary focus in the controller interface is to eliminate input lag while retaining the OEM style controller.

[bimm25e]

I have room for a few PCI (old style) cards on my motherboard, are there specific PCI usb cards I should shop for to keep input lag to a minimum as well?

[BobA]

Can you elaborate on what you mean by USB finger board?   Most of the controllers such as the Ipac and KeyWiz have usb outputs and no discernable lag.

[paigeoliver]

Most input lag comes from LCD screens and the triple buffering option in emulators and not from your interface. 10 years ago when the hobby was almost all CRT you never even heard the phrase "input lag" uttered. In fact, the first time the phrase input lag was uttered on this forum was in 2005, right when LCDs became mainstream.

[bimm25e]

yes im talking about things like the ipac, i just wanted to make sure before I buy one that they don't induce lag due to the usb port. 


I know that if I stray from my HD display's native resoultion (points for plasma at least) there will be a video lag, but I am worried about controller lag primarily in this post,

specifically:

- avoiding lag from a usb fingerboard such as the ipac that is good for binary switches, preferably purchase suggesations (didn't know what an ipac was until i saw your post for example)

-avoiding lag from overloading usb ports - my CP is going to support 4 players and I want to make ports available for different original console control pads to play as players 5 and 6 (i am compromising here, I wanted a 6 player control panel for xmen but its just too insanely big, even with a 52" screen)

-is it ok to use usb hubs? or should I be installing PCI USB ports, is there a better option than USB?


things along these lines.  I really want to limit input lag as much as possible.

[bimm25e]

I'll also be looking to add input ports for controllers with analogue bits as well after I see how the binay only , I would like to know a cheap effective way to hookup  n64/gamecube/ps2/dreamcast ports to a windows pc so they are ready to quick accept original controllers as well

[shponglefan]

Like paigeoliver said, your display is more likely going to be a source of lag than the controller input side.

Btw, what is a usb "fingerboard"?  Never heard that term and googling it revealed pictures of USB drives shaped like skateboards.

[bimm25e]

well i saw some articles about people buying replacement n64 joysticks but they indtoduced a lag which made smash attacks and no magic spin attcks in OoT impossible.  I would hate to buy all this stuff and end up with a situation like that. I ha heard them called fingerboards cant remember where.


so would I expect to get away with using something like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-64-Controller-to-PC-Dual-USB-adapter-for-N64-controller-Mayflash-2-Port-/260959669654?pt=US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item3cc2688d96

without discernable lag?